"Don't you have any goods you desire yourselves? If there are any commodities you fancy, perhaps I can exchange them for equivalent items!"
Copper coins were depreciating severely in Bianliang City at this time.
By paying with copper coins, Wang Chao'an had, at least, gained an advantage of an additional ten percent.
Without even needing to calculate carefully, the price of these bronze wares and gold sand alone should have been in the range of seventy to eighty thousand strings of cash.
At a price of one hundred thousand strings of cash, he could acquire all these items. Wang Chao'an himself hadn't expected that these people would offer such a low price.
Of course, someone like Wang Chao'an, who only knew how to make money in Bianliang City, naturally didn't understand the ways these maritime merchants made their fortunes.
Although at this time, within the Great Song Dynasty, the credit of copper coins was almost completely ruined by Prime Minister Cai.
However, in the overseas markets, Song coins were an absolutely stable currency.
The copper coins cast by the Song Dynasty were exquisitely made, whether in Wa, Goryeo, or the southern countries like Java.
They did not possess such advanced coin-casting technology. Therefore, with the rise of overseas trade, Song copper coins were exceptionally popular abroad. Their purchasing power was even several times higher than within their own country.
For these maritime merchants, it was better to purchase silk and porcelain in Mingzhou or simply take copper coins back than to carry large quantities of goods.
As long as they could bring these one hundred thousand strings of copper coins back to Wa, the value of this money would at least triple or quintuple.
"Not at this moment, but the monsoon season is approaching, and we need to return to Mingzhou as soon as possible. Otherwise, we wouldn't be selling these goods at such a low price..."
Seeing that Wang Chao'an seemed not to understand the intricacies, Ping Zheng Sheng, without any intention of explaining, instead offered a fawning smile and said.
"If that's the case, then I'll take this batch of goods. I'll have people deliver the money this afternoon, cash on delivery!"
"Since that is so, I shall await you here!"
Upon hearing Wang Chao'an readily agree, Ping Zheng Sheng's face immediately revealed a long-lost smile.
"Alright, then I shall not disturb you further. Farewell!"
"Farewell!"
Both believed they had struck a great bargain and were naturally eager to finalize the transaction as quickly as possible.
Wang Chao'an was in a hurry to prepare the copper coins, while Ping Zheng Sheng was anxious to prepare carriages and horses. Wang Chao'an, excited, had no idea that an invisible crisis was once again approaching him. This sure-fire business was about to face unexpected complications.
With Wang Fu's financial capacity, a mere hundred thousand strings of copper coins was nothing.
After hearing Wang Chao'an's report, Wang Fu, without a second thought, instructed him to handle the matter himself.
Handling such a large transaction, Wang Chao'an had specifically brought all his trusted confidants.
After meticulously inspecting the goods prepared for trade by those Japanese multiple times, it was only as dusk began to fall that both parties finally completed the transaction.
Watching the high-quality goods being loaded into boxes, one by one, and transported back to Wang Fu's estate. Wang Chao'an felt extremely pleased.
However, he understood that even though he had successfully completed the transaction, this was only half the task. Only when all these items were sold and converted back into copper coins would the entire mission be truly accomplished.
"You few, each of you take a few samples of these items and follow me!"
By the time all the goods were loaded and accounted for, it was completely dark. Although darkness had fallen, Wang Chao'an knew that this was precisely the time for the young masters of the noble families to make their appearance.
Wang Fu himself could absorb the gold sand, but the remaining items were burdensome for him to hold onto, and it would be better to convert them into gold and silver. To liquidate his goods, he naturally had to find the places where these young masters congregated.
"Steward Wang, where are we going?"
As they approached Xiaotianshui Lane, the servants behind Wang Chao'an quickly asked in hushed tones.
"Wherever the excitement is, that's where we're going. These things we have, how could ordinary families afford them?"
These items were inherently popular commodities. It was just that previously, everyone had been suppressed by the talk from the Zhe family. Now, with a change of seller, Wang Chao'an even felt that his goods might all be converted into copper coins or gold and silver before dawn.
"What kind of business is this? Why is there chanting from Buddhism in Xiaotianshui Lane? Could it be that those prostitutes have started to reform now?"
As the carriage stopped near the Fan Lou, hearing the Buddhist chants from not far away, Wang Chao'an, upon dismounting, remarked jokingly.
"Esteemed brother, you are indeed unaware! Tonight is truly an unprecedented grand occasion. The ten most renowned courtesans of Bianliang City have jointly invited Master Dao Jian from the Great Xiangguo Temple to open the doors of convenience at the Fan Lou and perform rituals for the souls of the innocent departed!"
As soon as Wang Chao'an finished speaking, a young man watching the scene nearby couldn't help but interject.
"What nonsense! The ten top courtesans have joined forces to invite an old monk?"
Wang Chao'an suddenly felt his head spinning; the matter was becoming stranger the more he heard.
"Indeed! What the Master said earlier is quite sensible. Many of the noble guests inside the Fan Lou are said to have, on the spot, offered their ivory accessories and fox furs from their homes for the Master to help them transcend!"
"What? What did you say?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Chao'an froze for a moment, then immediately reacted, grabbing the man by his collar.
What kind of joke is this?
Have these prostitutes gone mad tonight?
Can't they just sing and earn money as usual?
Why are they doing such ostentatious things?
With their actions, would anyone still buy these ivory products in his hands?
"Wha-what are you doing? What the Master said is indeed reasonable. All beings are equal. Even animals only hunt when they are hungry. To kill a beast merely for its appearance, what you hold in your hands are not accessories, but countless blood debts! It is natural to be human in this life, but what if you were to be reborn as a beast in your next life, would you not also suffer the pain of being skinned and dismembered?"
Listening to the man's sophistry, Wang Chao'an felt his happy life drifting further and further away...
Damn it, why are monks not chanting scriptures properly, but constantly engaging in such flashy activities?